Subdermal material delivery device

ABSTRACT

A method may include placing a first device on a first side of a skin portion of a subject and transferring a material through the skin portion of the subject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion of the subject.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims the benefit of earliestavailable effective filing date(s) from the following listedapplication(s) (the “Related Applications”) (e.g., claims earliestavailable priority dates for other than provisional patent applications;claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patentapplications), and incorporates by reference in its entirety all subjectmatter of the following listed application(s); the present applicationalso claims the earliest available effective filing date(s) from, andalso incorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of anyand all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of theRelated Application(s) to the extent such subject matter is notinconsistent herewith:

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation of United States PatentApplication entitled SUBDERMAL MATERIAL DELIVERY DEVICE, naming RoderickA. Hyde; Jordin T. Kare; Dennis J. Rivet; and Lowell L. Wood Jr asinventors, filed 20 Mar. 2008, application Ser. No. 12/077,938, which iscurrently co-pending, or is an application of which a currentlyco-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to theeffect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent applicantsreference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is acontinuation or continuation-in-part. Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit ofPrior-Filed Application, USPTO Official Gazette Mar. 18, 2003, availableat http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2003/week11/patbene.htm.The present Applicant has provided above a specific reference to theapplication(s)from which priority is being claimed as recited bystatute. Applicant understands that the statute is unambiguous in itsspecific reference language and does not require either a serial numberor any characterization, such as “continuation” or“continuation-in-part,” for claiming priority to U.S. patentapplications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Applicant understands thatthe USPTO's computer programs have certain data entry requirements, andhence Applicant is designating the present application as a continuationof its parent applications as set forth above, but expressly points outthat such designations are not to be construed in any way as any type ofcommentary and/or admission as to whether or not the present applicationcontains any new matter in addition to the matter of its parentapplication(s).

BACKGROUND

Subcutaneous devices can be utilized to dispense material (such asmedicine) to subjects in which such devices have been implanted. Thesedevices may be desirable for ensuring patient compliance andconvenience. However, reloading such devices may require invasivetechniques for refilling the dispensed material, including repeatedlypuncturing the skin of the subject or placing a port in the subject'sskin.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a method includes but is not limited to placing a firstdevice on a first side of a skin portion of a subject and transferring amaterial through the skin portion of the subject from the first deviceto a subdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skinportion of the subject. In addition to the foregoing, other methodaspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a partof the present disclosure.

In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are notlimited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the hereinreferenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming can bevirtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmwareconfigured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects depending uponthe design choices of the system designer.

In one aspect, a system includes but is not limited to a means forplacing a first device on a first side of a skin portion of a subjectand a means for transferring a material through the skin portion of thesubject from the first device to a subdermal second device disposed on asecond side of the skin portion of the subject. In addition to theforegoing, other system aspects are described in the claims, drawings,and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system and/orprogram product aspects are set forth and described in the teachingssuch as text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or drawingsof the present disclosure.

A device includes a reservoir configured for placement subdermally to askin portion of a subject and an input port operably connected to thereservoir for receiving a material transferred through the skin portionof the subject from a second device placed on a second side of the skinportion of the subject.

A device includes a reservoir configured for placement externally to askin portion of a subject and an output port operably connected to thereservoir for transferring a material through the skin portion of thesubject to a second device placed on a second side of the skin portionof the subject.

The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications,generalizations, inclusions, and/or omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/orother subject matter described herein will become apparent in theteachings set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The use of the same symbols in different drawings typically indicatessimilar or identical items.

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a device for transferring material through askin portion of a subject to a second subcutaneous device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a subject including a subcutaneous device.

FIG. 3 is another schematic of a device for transferring materialthrough a skin portion of a subject to a second subcutaneous device.

FIG. 4 is a further schematic of a device for transferring materialthrough a skin portion of a subject to a second subcutaneous device.

FIG. 5 is a still further schematic of a device for transferringmaterial through a skin portion of a subject to a second subcutaneousdevice.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of a subcutaneous device for receiving materialtransferred through a skin portion of a subject.

FIG. 7 illustrates an operational flow representing example operationsrelated to transferring material through a skin portion a subject to asubcutaneous device.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operational flow ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operational flow ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operational flow ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operational flow ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operational flow ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operational flow ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operational flow ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 15 illustrates an operational flow representing example operationsrelated to transferring material through a skin portion a subject to asubcutaneous device.

FIG. 16 illustrates an operational flow representing example operationsrelated to transferring material through a skin portion a subject to asubcutaneous device.

FIG. 17 illustrates an operational flow representing example operationsrelated to transferring material through a skin portion a subject to asubcutaneous device.

FIG. 18 illustrates an operational flow representing example operationsrelated to transferring material through a skin portion a subject to asubcutaneous device.

FIG. 19 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operational flow ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 20 illustrates an operational flow representing example operationsrelated to transferring material through a skin portion a subject to asubcutaneous device.

FIG. 21 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the operational flow ofFIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description and drawings, and claims are not meant to belimiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may bemade, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1 through 6, a first device 100 fortransferring material through a skin portion 102 of a subject 104 to asubcutaneous/subdermal second device 106 is described in accordance withembodiments. The subject 104 may generally be defined as any biologicalentity having a protective skin covering, such as a mammalian entity(e.g., a human, a dog, a cat, or another mammal), an avian entity (e.g.,a bird of prey), as well as other biological entities having protectiveskin coverings. The first device 100 is placed on a first side 108 ofthe skin portion 102 of the subject 104 (e.g., externally to the skinportion 102 of the subject 104), and the subdermal second device 106 isplaced on a second side 110 of the skin portion 102 of the subject 104(e.g., subdermally to the skin portion 102 of the subject 104). Then amaterial 112 may be transferred from the first device 100 to thesubdermal second device 106 through the skin portion 102 of the subject104.

In some embodiments, the subdermal second device 106 may be utilized forperforming a bioassay/analytical procedure on the subject 104. Forexample, in one embodiment, an assay is performed utilizing a material112 that reacts to the subject's blood. The material 112 may bereplenished during the course of the assay by transferring additionalmaterial 112 through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 from thefirst device 100 to the subdermal second device 106. It will beappreciated that while the material 112 has been described with somespecificity as material selected for performing a bioassay/analyticalprocedure, a wide variety of materials may be utilized with the firstdevice 100 or the subdermal second device 106, including materialsselected for diagnosing, treating, preventing, or alleviating symptomsof an illness/disease. Further, it is contemplated that materialsselected for establishing or maintaining an overall level ofhealth/wellness for the subject 104 may be utilized as well, includingvitamins, minerals, nutrients, and the like. In some embodiments, thefirst device 100 is configured for the transdermal transfer of materialthrough the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 in a needle-free manner,i.e., without extending any portion of the first device 100 through theskin portion 102 of the subject 104 and without connecting the firstdevice 100 to any mechanical instrument extending through the skinportion 102 of the subject 104.

In an embodiment, the material 112 is transferred utilizingiontophoresis (i.e., active transport within an electric field). Forexample, a first electrical polarity may be established for the firstdevice 100 in opposition to a second electrical polarity for the skinportion 102 of the subject 104 or for the subdermal second device 106.Then, the material 112 may be transferred through the skin portion 102of the subject 104 to the subdermal second device 106 utilizingiontophoresis. For instance, in an embodiment, the first electricalpolarity for the first device 100 is set in opposition to a secondelectrical polarity for the subdermal second device 106, creating anelectric field between the first device 100 and the subdermal seconddevice 106. The material 112, which may have a charge corresponding tothe first electrical polarity of the first device 100, is thentransported from the first device 100 through the skin portion 102 ofthe subject 104 to the subdermal second device 106 via repulsiveelectromotive force. It will be appreciated that the polarities of oneor both of the first device 100 and the subdermal second device 106 maybe controlled as needed to assist with the transfer of the material 112.

In another embodiment, the material 112 is transferred utilizing one ormore jets for propelling the material 112. For example, the first device100 may include an output port 114 with a microjet for propelling thematerial 112 through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 to an inputport/receiving port 116 of the subdermal second device 106. A microjetutilizes pressure to force or displace material through an extremelysmall diameter opening, i.e., a micro-nozzle (for example, approximately50-200 μm), enabling the material to penetrate at least one dermal layerof the subject 104 without substantially damaging the dermal layer. Forexample, the first device 100 may utilize pressure to force or displacethe material 112 through a micro-nozzle, enabling the material 112 topenetrate at least one dermal layer of the subject 104 withoutsubstantially damaging the dermal layer. In this example, themicro-nozzle may be approximately cylindrical in shape and have adiameter of approximately 50-150 μm. By way of another example, theoutput port 114 may comprise a MEMS (microelectromechanical systems)based microjet formed by a piezoelectric transducer bonded to a siliconwafer with a micro-nozzle which forces or displaces the material 112through the micro-nozzle enabling the material 112 to penetrate at leastone dermal layer of the subject 104 without substantially damaging thedermal layer.

The output port 114 may comprise a liquid microjet that utilizespressure to force or displace a small volume of liquid through amicro-nozzle enabling the liquid to penetrate at least one dermal layerof the subject 104 without substantially damaging the dermal layer. Forexample, the first device 100 may utilize pressure to force or displacea liquid material 112 through a micro-nozzle enabling the material 112to penetrate at least one dermal layer of the subject 104 withoutsubstantially damaging the dermal layer. In this example, themicro-nozzle may be cylindrical in shape and have a diameter ofapproximately 50-100 μm. By way of another example, the first device 100may comprise a MEMS-based liquid microjet formed by a piezoelectrictransducer bonded to a silicon wafer with a micro-nozzle which forces ordisplaces the material 112 as a liquid through the micro-nozzle enablingthe material 112 to penetrate at least one dermal layer of the subject104 without substantially damaging the dermal layer.

The output port 114 may comprise a pulsed liquid microjet that utilizespressure to force one or more pulses of a liquid material 112 through anozzle enabling the pulse of liquid to penetrate at least one dermallayer of the subject 104 without substantially damaging the dermallayer. For example, the first device 100 may utilize pulses of pressureto force or displace liquid through a micro-nozzle at a frequency ofapproximately 1 Hz to 10 Hz enabling the material to penetrate at leastone dermal layer of the subject 104 without substantially damaging thedermal layer. By way of another example, the first device 100 maycomprise a MEMS-based liquid microjet formed by a piezoelectrictransducer bonded to a silicon wafer with a micro-nozzle which utilizespulses of pressure at a frequency of approximately 1 Hz to 10 Hz toforce or displace the material 112 as a liquid through the micro-nozzleenabling the material 112 to penetrate at least one dermal layer of thesubject 104 without substantially damaging the dermal layer.

A microjet may include a liquid jet having a jet diameter in the rangeof micrometers or smaller. A microjet may include a liquid jet having asupersonic speed, or alternatively, a subsonic speed. In furtherembodiments, the material 112 may be transported through the skinportion 102 of the subject 104 to the receiving port 116 of thesubdermal second device 106 in an ultra fine stream. An ultra finestream may include a liquid stream having a diameter in the range ofnanometers or larger. In still further embodiments, the material 112 maybe transported through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 to thereceiving port 116 of the subdermal second device 106 in a pulsedstream.

In other embodiments, the first device 100 may force may force thematerial 112 through at least one dermal layer of the subject 104utilizing high pressure. High pressure may allow a very thin stream topuncture an isolated portion of the at least one dermal layer of thesubject 104 rather than transferring the impact to a larger area of theat least one dermal layer and thus not substantially damage the at leastone dermal layer. High pressure may be pressure sufficient to force thematerial 112 through at least one dermal layer of the subject 104without substantial damage to the at least one dermal layer of thesubject 104. For example, the first device 100 may force the material112 through at least one dermal layer of the subject 104 at a velocityof at least approximately 100 m/s. The first device 100 may include apressure generating mechanism for generating pressure including, but notlimited to, a spring-loaded pressure generating mechanism or apiezoelectric pressure generating mechanism. For example, the firstdevice 100 may comprise an electrically powered piezoelectric actuatorwhich displaces a plunger in an acrylic micro-nozzle to force thematerial 112 through at least one dermal layer of the subject 104. Inthis example, the volume and velocity of the material 112 may becontrolled by controlling the voltage and rise time of the electricallypowered piezoelectric actuator. By way of another example, the firstdevice 100 may comprise a loaded spring which displaces a plunger in amicro-nozzle to force the material 112 through at least one dermal layerof the subject 104. By way of still another example, the first device100 may comprise a MEMS-based microjet formed by a piezoelectrictransducer bonded to a silicon wafer with a micro-nozzle approximately5-10 μm in diameter where a continuous pressure wave generated by thepiezoelectric transducer propagates the material 112 toward themicro-nozzle to force the material 112 through at least one dermal layerof the subject 104.

In an embodiment, at least one dermal layer of the subject 104 may besubjected to an energy field to aid in forcing the material 112 throughthe at least one dermal layer of the subject 104. Subjecting the atleast one dermal layer of the subject 104 to the energy field may createone or more pores in the at least one dermal layer or may increase thepermeability of the at least one dermal layer, aiding in forcing thematerial 112 through the at least one dermal layer. The energy field mayinclude, but is not limited to, an electrical energy field or anultrasonic energy field. The first device 100 or the subdermal seconddevice 106 may subject the at least one dermal layer 102 to the energyfield.

It will be appreciated, in light of the description provided herein,that a number of techniques may be utilized for transporting thematerial 112 from the first device 100 to the subdermal second device106 through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104. Further, more thanone microjet, ultra fine stream, or pulsed stream may be utilizedsimultaneously over an area of the skin portion 102 of the subject 104.

In certain embodiments, transfer of the material 112 from the firstdevice 100 to the subdermal second device 106 may be assisted bysonophoresis, in which the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 becomestemporarily more permeable for increasing the absorption of topicallyapplied compounds. For example, ultrasonic waves may be utilized tostimulate micro-vibrations within the skin portion 102 of the subject104, increasing the ability of the material 112 to migrate through theskin portion 102 to the subdermal second device 106. In an embodiment,the material 112 is topically applied to the first side 108 of the skinportion 102 of the subject 104 (e.g., via the output port 114 of thefirst device 100). The first device 100 or the subdermal second device106 may then generate ultrasonic waves, assisting in the migration ofthe material 112 through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 fromthe first side 108 of the skin portion 102 to the second side 110 of theskin portion 102, and then to the receiving port 116 of the subdermalsecond device 106.

The first device 100 may include a first reservoir 118 for storing thematerial 112. Further, the subdermal second device 106 may include asecond reservoir 120 for storing the material 112. In an embodiment, thefirst reservoir 118 of the first device 100 is at least partiallydeloaded to transfer the material 112 through the skin portion 102 ofthe subject 104 to the subdermal second device 106. The material 112 maythen be collected by the subdermal second device 106 in the secondreservoir 120. In order to ensure that the material 112 reaches thesubdermal second device 106, the second reservoir 120 of the subdermalsecond device 106 may be aligned with the first reservoir 118 of thefirst device 100. In an embodiment, this may be accomplished by at leastsubstantially aligning the output port 114 of the first device 100 withthe receiving port 116 of the subdermal second device 106.

At least substantially aligning the output port 114 of the first device100 with the receiving port 116 of the subdermal second device 106 mayinclude defining a transcutaneous path 122 extending through the skinportion 102 of the subject 104 from the first device 100 to thesubdermal second device 106. The material 112 may then be transferredthrough the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 generally along thetranscutaneous path 122. In certain embodiments, the transcutaneous path122 may be defined to avoid one or more undesirable obstacles, such as ablood vessel 500, a previously utilized transcutaneous path 502, anerve, or the like, as illustrated in FIG. 5. A variety of techniques,including various techniques for medical imaging, may be utilized toidentify such undesirable obstacles as necessary.

In order to align the output port 114 of the first device 100 with thereceiving port 116 of the subdermal second device 106, a fiducial may belocated on the subject 104. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, amarking (e.g., a tattoo 200) may be placed on the subject 104. Thetattoo 200 may be a temporary tattoo, a marking made with a permanent orsemi-permanent ink, or another type of marking not easily removed (e.g.,not removable with soap and water in one or two thorough washings). Inan embodiment, the marking is selected to last for the duration oftreatment or the lifetime of the subdermal second device 106. In otherembodiments, the marking may be reapplied as necessary. In a stillfurther embodiment, the subdermal second device 106 may be placed withinthe subject 104 at a predefined location selected for its knownproximity to a preexisting fiducial, such as a tattoo, a piercing, abirthmark, or a variety of readily identifiable body features andlocations.

Alternatively, a fiducial 124 may be placed on the subdermal seconddevice 106. In an embodiment, the fiducial 124 may include a fluorescentmarker. In another embodiment, the fiducial 124 may include a markerhaving an enhanced radio signature (e.g., a material for emitting orreflecting a radio signal). In a still further embodiment, the fiducial124 may include a radio frequency identification tag. Alternatively, thefiducial 124 may include a radio opaque marker. The fiducial 124 mayinclude a retroreflector (i.e., a device with enhanced opticalreflection, making its surface appear brighter than it would otherwisebe). Further, the fiducial 124 may include an ultrasonic marker. Thefirst device 100 may include a sensor 129 for detecting an indicator ofthe location of the second device 106. It will be appreciated, in lightof the description provided herein, that the fiducial 124 may include avariety of location aids.

In certain embodiments, the subdermal second device 106 may transmit asignal 126 to the first device 100 for aligning the output port 114 ofthe first device 100 with the receiving port 116 of the subdermal seconddevice 106. In an embodiment, the signal 126 may include an electricalcurrent. In another embodiment, the signal 126 may include an electricalfield. In a still further embodiment, the signal 126 may include amagnetic flux. Alternatively, the signal 126 may include an opticalsignal, e.g., from a Light Emitting Diode (LED). The signal 126 mayinclude a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Further, the signal 126may include an ultrasonic signal. It will be appreciated, in light ofthe description provided herein, that the signal 126 may be transmittedin a variety of formats.

Alternatively, the signal 126 generated by the subdermal second device106 may be transmitted from the subdermal second device 106 to informthe first device 100 (or another interested party) of informationregarding the material 112. Thus, the signal 126 may include informationregarding a need for the material 112, a need for a quantity of thematerial 112, a need for a type of the material 112, or a quantity ofthe material 112 collected. The signal 126 may also indicate a readycondition for receiving the material 112 or provide feedback regardingwhether the material 112 is received by the subdermal second device 106.Thus, the signal 126 may be utilized to stop transfer of the material112 if the material is not received by the subdermal second device 106.Alternatively, the signal 126 may be utilized to compare an amount ofthe material 112 collected by the subdermal second device 106 to anamount of the material 112 transferred by the first device 100. Further,the signal 126 may be utilized to stop transfer of the material 112 whenthe subdermal second device 106 does not require more of the material(e.g., when the second reservoir 120 of the subdermal second device 106is full). Further, the first device 100 may include a receiver 128 forreceiving the signal 126 from the subdermal second device 106 andcoordinating the transfer of the material 112 from the first device 100to the subdermal second device 106. For example, the subdermal seconddevice 106 may contain one or more sensors for detecting an amount ofmaterial contained in the second reservoir 120. When the material is ata desired level within the second reservoir 120, a sensor may cause asignal 126 to be sent by a signal generation and transmission mechanism,such as an ultrasonic transmitter, or the like. In this embodiment,receipt of the ultrasonic signal by the first device 100 may cause thefirst device 100 to stop transfer of the material 112.

In certain embodiments, either or both of the first device 100 and thesubdermal second device 106 may include one or more reservoirs forstoring material. For example, in embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4, the first device 100 may include a third reservoir 300, and thesubdermal second device 106 may include a fourth reservoir 302. Thethird reservoir 300 and the fourth reservoir 302 may be utilized forstoring another material 304. The material 304 may be a second materialdifferent from the first material 112 (e.g., in a case where multiplematerials are stored by the subdermal second device 106). Alternatively,the material 304 may be the same as the material 112 (e.g., in a casewhere multiple doses of the same material are stored by the subdermalsecond device 106).

It will be appreciated in light of the description provided herein, thatthe third reservoir 300 and the fourth reservoir 302 may be connected toseparate output ports and receiving ports (as illustrated in FIG. 3) orconnected to the same output ports and receiving ports as the firstreservoir 118 and the second reservoir 120, respectively (as illustratedin FIG. 4). Further, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the outputport of the third reservoir 300 may be aligned with the receiving portof the fourth reservoir 302 (as previously described) for transportingthe material 304 from the first device 100 to the subdermal seconddevice 106. It is contemplated that the first device 100 and thesubdermal second device 106 may each include more than two reservoirsfor storing and receiving various materials, including three reservoirs,four reservoirs, and more than four reservoirs. Further, it will beappreciated, in light of the description provided herein, that thevarious reservoirs may be connected to various output ports andreceiving ports. For example, in an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5,the first reservoir 118 and the second reservoir 120 may be connected toa second output port 504 and a second receiving port 506.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the receiving port 116 of thesubdermal second device 106 includes a first window 600 for providingaccess to an antechamber 602 of the second reservoir 120, and one ormore second windows 604 for providing access to one or more innerchamber 606 of the second reservoir 120. The first window 600 or the oneor more second windows 604 may be controllable. For example, thesubdermal second device 106 may include one or more motors or otherdevice(s) for controlling the windows 600, 604. It will be appreciatedthat the amount the windows are open may be controllable as well, suchas the diameter/opening width to which the windows are opened.

In an embodiment, the subdermal second device 106 is powered by a powersource outside the body of the subject 104. The first device 100 mayinclude a power provider. The subdermal second device 106 may include apower receiver. The first device 100 may provide power to the subdermalsecond device 106 via the power provider and the power receiver. Forexample, the power provider may be connected to an AC power source andmay provide power to the subdermal second device 106 via the powerreceiver utilizing at least one dermal layer of the subject 104 as aconductive medium.

In another embodiment, the subdermal second device 106 may include anenergy storage mechanism. For example, the energy storage mechanism mayinclude, but is not limited to, a lithium-ion battery, an alkalinebattery, a lead acid battery, an absorbed glass mat battery, a thermalbattery, a chloroaluminate battery, a nickel-zinc battery, a nickelcadmium battery, an aluminum battery, a lithium battery, or a nickelmetal hydride battery. The energy storage mechanism may be charged by apower source outside the body of the subject 104. The first device 100may include a power provider. The subdermal second device 106 mayinclude a power receiver. The first device 100 may charge the energystorage mechanism via the power provider and the power receiver. Forexample, the power provider may be connected to an AC power source andmay charge the energy storage mechanism via the power receiver utilizingmutual induction.

FIG. 7 illustrates an operational flow 700 representing exampleoperations related to transferring material through a skin portion 102of a subject 104 to a subcutaneous/subdermal second device 106. In FIG.7 and in following figures that include various examples of operationalflows, discussion and explanation may be provided with respect to theabove-described examples of FIGS. 1 through 6, or with respect to otherexamples and contexts. However, it will be understood, in light of thedescription provided herein, that the operational flows may be executedin a number of other environments and contexts, or in modified versionsof FIGS. 1 through 6. Also, although the various operational flows arepresented in the sequence(s) illustrated, it will be understood, inlight of the description provided herein, that the various operationsmay be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated, ormay be performed concurrently.

After a start operation, the operational flow 700 moves to a placingoperation 710, where a first device may be placed on a first side of askin portion of a subject. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6,the first device 100 may be placed on the first side 108 of the skinportion 102 of the subject 104.

Then, in a transferring operation 720, a material may be transferredthrough the skin portion of the subject from the first device to asubdermal second device disposed on a second side of the skin portion ofthe subject, the material in direct contact with the skin portion of thesubject. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the material 112may be transferred from the first device 100 to the subdermal seconddevice 106 through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104, where thesubdermal second device 106 is placed on the second side 110 of the skinportion 102 of the subject 104.

FIG. 8 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 700 of FIG. 7. FIG. 8 illustrates embodiments where thetransferring operation 720 may include at least one additionaloperation. Additional operations may include an operation 802, anoperation 804, an operation 806, or an operation 808.

At the operation 802, the material may be transferred utilizing at leastone of iontophoresis, microjets, or an ultra fine stream. For example,as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the output port 114 of the first device100 may include one or more microjets for propelling the material 112through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 to the inputport/receiving port 116 of the subdermal second device 106.

At the operation 804, transfer of the material may be assisted withsonophoresis. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the material112 may be topically applied to the first side 108 of the skin portion102 of the subject 104. The first device 100 or the subdermal seconddevice 106 may then generate ultrasound waves, assisting in themigration of the material 112 through the skin portion 102 of thesubject 104 to the receiving port 116 of the subdermal second device106.

At the operation 806, an electric polarity may be established for thefirst device where the subdermal second device has an electric polarityopposite the first device. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, afirst electrical polarity may be established for the first device 100 inopposition to a second electrical polarity for the subdermal seconddevice 106. Further, at the operation 808, the polarity of at least oneof the first device or the subdermal second device may be controlled.For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the polarity of the firstdevice 100 may be controlled as needed to assist with the transfer ofthe material 112.

FIG. 9 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 700 of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 illustrates embodiments where thetransferring operation 720 may include at least one additionaloperation. Additional operations may include an operation 902, anoperation 904, an operation 906, an operation 908, or an operation 910.

At the operation 902, the material may be transferred from at least oneof an iontophoresis device, a microjet injector device, a sonophoresisdevice, or a transdermal patch to the subdermal second device. Forexample, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the first device 100 may be amicrojet injector device, in which the output port 114 includes one ormore microjets for propelling the material 112 through the skin portion102 of the subject 104 to the receiving port 116 of the subdermal seconddevice 106.

At the operation 904, a reservoir of the first device may be at leastpartially deloaded to transfer the material through the skin portion ofthe subject to the subdermal second device. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1 through 6, the first reservoir 118 of the first device 100 maybe at least partially deloaded to transfer the material 112 through theskin portion 102 of the subject 104 to the subdermal second device 106.

At the operation 906, an output port of the first device may be at leastsubstantially aligned with a receiving port of the subdermal seconddevice. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the output port 114of the first device 100 may be aligned with the receiving port 116 ofthe subdermal second device 106. Further, at the operation 908, afiducial may be located on the subject. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1through 6, the subdermal second device 106 may be placed within thesubject 104 at a predefined location selected for its known proximity toa fiducial (e.g., a tattoo, a piercing, or a birthmark). The fiducialmay then be located to determine the position of the subdermal seconddevice 106. Further, at the operation 910, a tattoo may be located onthe subject. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the tattoo 200may be located on the subject 104.

FIG. 10 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 700 of FIG. 7. FIG. 10 illustrates embodiments where thetransferring operation 720 may include at least one additionaloperation. Additional operations may include an operation 1002, anoperation 1004, an operation 1006, or an operation 1008. At theoperation 1002, a fiducial may be located on the subdermal seconddevice. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the fiducial 124 maybe located on the subdermal second device 106. Further, at the operation1004, at least one of a fluorescent marker, a marker having an enhancedradio signature, a radio frequency identification tag, a radio opaquemarker, a retroreflector, or an ultrasonic marker disposed of thesubdermal second device may be located. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1through 6, the fiducial 124 may include a radio frequency identificationtag. Further, at the operation 1006, a signal from the subdermal seconddevice may be received. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 andcontinuing the previous example, the subdermal second device 106 maybroadcast a radio frequency identification signal 126 to the firstdevice 100 for aligning the output port 114 of the first device 100 withthe receiving port 116 of the subdermal second device 106. Further, atthe operation 1008, at least one of an electrical current, an electricalfield, a magnetic flux, an optical signal, a radio frequencyidentification, or an ultrasonic signal may be received from thesubdermal second device. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 andcontinuing the previous example, the first device 100 receives the radiofrequency identification signal 126 from the fiducial 124.

FIG. 11 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 700 of FIG. 7. FIG. 11 illustrates embodiments where thetransferring operation 720 may include at least one additionaloperation. Additional operations may include an operation 1102, anoperation 1104, an operation 1106, or an operation 1108.

At the operation 1102, at least one of a drug, a logistical material, ora marker may be transferred through the skin portion of the subject fromthe first device to the subdermal second device. For example, as shownin FIGS. 1 through 6, the material 112 may include a marker/taggant forinteracting with biological material, such as the subject's blood.Alternatively, the material 112 may include a drug for treating,preventing, or alleviating symptoms of an illness/disease. Further, thematerial 112 may include a logistical material (e.g., antibodies,nucleic acids, and the like).

At the operation 1104, feedback may be received regarding whether thematerial is received by the subdermal second device. For example, asshown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the signal 126 transmitted to the firstdevice 100 (or another interested party) may provide feedback regardingwhether the material 112 is received by the subdermal second device 106.

At the operation 1106, transfer of the material may be stopped if thematerial is not received by the subdermal second device. For example, asshown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the signal 126 may be utilized to stoptransfer of the material 112 if the material is not received by thesubdermal second device 106.

At the operation 1108, an amount of the material collected by thesubdermal second device may be compared to an amount of the materialejected from the first device. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through6, the signal 126 may be utilized to compare an amount of the material112 collected by the subdermal second device 106 to an amount of thematerial 112 ejected from the first device 100.

FIG. 12 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 700 of FIG. 7. FIG. 12 illustrates embodiments where thetransferring operation 720 may include at least one additionaloperation. Additional operations may include an operation 1202, anoperation 1204, an operation 1206, or an operation 1208.

At the operation 1202, transfer of the material may be stopped when thesubdermal second device does not require additional material. Forexample, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the signal 126 may be utilizedto stop transfer of the material 112 when the subdermal second device106 does not require additional material 112. Further, at the operation1204, transfer of the material may be stopped when a reservoir on thesubdermal second device is full. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1through 6 and continuing the previous example, the signal 126 may beutilized to stop transfer of the material 112 when the second reservoir120 of the subdermal second device 106 is full. Further, at theoperation 1206, a signal may be received from the subdermal seconddevice indicating it does not require additional material. For example,as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the signal 126 may be received by thefirst device 100 and utilized to stop transfer of the material 112.

At the operation 1208, a stream of the material may be pulsed. Forexample, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the output port 114 of the firstdevice 100 may be utilized for pulsing a stream of the material 112through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 to the receiving port116 of the subdermal second device 106. The first device 100 may forcethe material 112 through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 as aliquid in a pulse in order to determine if the subdermal second device106 is receiving the material 112 (e.g., prior to continuing to transferthe material 112 through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104). Thefirst device 100 or the subdermal second device 106 may include one ormore processors, memories, transmitters, and receivers for determiningif the subdermal second device 106 is receiving the material 112.

FIG. 13 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 700 of FIG. 7. FIG. 13 illustrates embodiments where thetransferring operation 720 may include at least one additionaloperation. Additional operations may include an operation 1302, anoperation 1304, an operation 1306, or an operation 1308.

At the operation 1302, the material may be transferred through an inputport of the subdermal second device. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1through 6, the material 112 may be transferred through the receivingport 116 of the subdermal second device 106. Further, at the operation1304, a stream of the material may be transferred through at least oneof a self-healing material (e.g., an epoxy containing microcapsulesfilled with a liquid monomer or a supramolecular polymer), aself-sealing material (e.g., a hydrogel disposed of a porous substrate),a layer of material (e.g., a layer of plastic), a viscous material(e.g., a gel), a porous material (e.g., a material constructed utilizinga polymer or surfactant template), a liquid material (e.g., awater-based solution), a wickable material (e.g., synthetic resins orfibers), or a closable window (e.g., an aperture covered by a leafshutter) disposed of the subdermal second device. For example, as shownin FIGS. 1 through 6, a stream of the material 112 may be transferredthrough the receiving port 116 of the subdermal second device 106, wherethe receiving port 116 includes a self-healing material (e.g., amaterial capable of fully or partially restoring its integrity afterbeing punctured by the stream of material 112). Further, the receivingport 116 may include a self-sealing material (e.g., a material capableof fully or partially resealing itself after being penetrated by thestream of material 112). Still further, the receiving port 116 mayinclude a viscous material (e.g., a material that is viscous at the bodytemperature of the subject). Alternatively, the receiving port 116 mayinclude a closable window, where the window is openable for receivingthe material 112. It will be appreciated that the material 112 may beretained by one or more layers of material. Additionally, it will beappreciated that the material 112 may be retained by the subdermalsecond device 106 via surface tension in the case of a liquid material.Further, at the operation 1306, the input port may be opened inpreparation for receiving the material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1through 6 and continuing a previous example, the receiving port 116 mayinclude a closable window, where the window is openable for receivingthe material 112. The window may be opened in preparation for receivingthe material 112. Then, at the operation 1308, transfer of the materialmay be coordinated with the opening of the input port. For example, asshown in FIGS. 1 through 6 and continuing the previous example, thefirst device 100 or another external device, possibly connected to thefirst device 100, may transfer a signal to the subdermal second device106 notifying the subdermal second device 106 to prepare for receivingthe material 112. Subsequently, the subdermal second device 106 may openthe closable window to receive the material 112.

FIG. 14 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 700 of FIG. 7. FIG. 14 illustrates embodiments where thetransferring operation 720 may include at least one additionaloperation. Additional operations may include an operation 1402, or anoperation 1404.

At the operation 1402, the material may be transferred to a firstreservoir of the subdermal second device. For example, as shown in FIGS.1 through 6, the material 112 may be transferred from the first device100 to the second reservoir 120 of the subdermal second device 106. Inone embodiment, the second reservoir 120 of the subdermal second device106 is configured to rotate for retaining the material 112. For example,the rotation of the second reservoir 120 may bias the material 112towards the walls of the second reservoir 120, retaining the materialwithin the second reservoir 120 even when the receiving port 116 is inan opened orientation for receiving the material 112 (e.g., in the caseof a closable window). Alternatively, the second reservoir 120 mayinclude one or more walls constructed to have an attraction to thematerial 112 (e.g., the wall may be hydrophyllic in the case of awater-based material 112). Further, at the operation 1404, an input portof the first reservoir of the subdermal second device may be alignedwith an output port of the first device. For example, as shown in FIGS.1 through 6, this may be accomplished by at least substantially aligningthe output port 114 of the first device 100 with the receiving port 116of the subdermal second device 106.

FIG. 15 illustrates an operational flow 1500 representing exampleoperations related to transferring material through a skin portion 102of a subject 104 to a subcutaneous/subdermal second device 106. FIG. 15illustrates an embodiment where the example operational flow 700 of FIG.7 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operationsmay include an operation 1510, or an operation 1512.

After a start operation, a placing operation 710, and a transferringoperation 720, the operational flow 1500 moves to a receiving operation1510, where a signal from the subdermal second device may be receivedregarding the material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, thefirst device 100 (or another interested party, such as a monitoringstation, a doctor's office, or the like) may receive a signal 126regarding the material 112.

At the operation 1512, a signal may be received from the subdermalsecond device regarding at least one of a need for the material, a needfor a quantity of the material, a need for a type of the material, aquantity of the material present, or a quantity of the materialcollected. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 and continuing theprevious example, the signal 126 received by the first device 100 mayinclude information regarding a need for the material 112 by thesubdermal second device 106.

FIG. 16 illustrates an operational flow 1600 representing exampleoperations related to transferring material through a skin portion 102of a subject 104 to a subcutaneous/subdermal second device 106. FIG. 16illustrates an example embodiment where the example operational flow 700of FIG. 7 may include at least one additional operation. Additionaloperations may include an operation 1610.

After a start operation, a placing operation 710, and a transferringoperation 720, the operational flow 1600 moves to a receiving operation1610, where a signal from the subdermal second device may be receivedregarding a ready condition for receiving the material. For example, asshown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the signal 126 may indicate a readycondition for receiving the material 112. In certain embodiments, aready condition may include information regarding a port/pre-port thathas been opened. For example, the signal 126 may indicate that a firstwindow 600 for providing access to an antechamber 602 of the secondreservoir 120 of the subdermal second device 106 has opened.Alternatively, the signal 126 may indicate that a second window 604 forproviding access to an inner chamber 606 of the second reservoir 120 ofthe subdermal second device 106 has opened.

FIG. 17 illustrates an operational flow 1700 representing exampleoperations related to transferring material through a skin portion 102of a subject 104 to a subcutaneous/subdermal second device 106. FIG. 17illustrates an embodiment where the example operational flow 700 of FIG.7 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operationsmay include an operation 1710, an operation 1712, or an operation 1714.

After a start operation, a placing operation 710, and a transferringoperation 720, the operational flow 1700 moves to a second transferringoperation 1710, where a second material may be transferred through theskin portion of the subject from the first device to the subdermalsecond device disposed on the second side of the skin portion of thesubject. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the second material304 may be transferred through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104from the first device 100 to the subdermal second device 106.

At the operation 1712, the second material may be transferred to asecond reservoir of the subdermal second device. For example, as shownin FIGS. 1 through 6 and continuing the previous example, the secondmaterial 304 may be transferred from the third reservoir 300 of thefirst device 100 to the fourth reservoir 302 of the subdermal seconddevice 106. Further, at the operation 1714, an input port of the secondreservoir of the subdermal second device may be aligned with an outletport of a second reservoir of the first device. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1 through 6 and continuing the previous example, the output portof the third reservoir 300 may be aligned with the receiving port of thefourth reservoir 302 in preparation for receiving the second material304.

FIG. 18 illustrates an operational flow 1800 representing exampleoperations related to transferring material through a skin portion 102of a subject 104 to a subcutaneous/subdermal second device 106. FIG. 18illustrates an embodiment where the example operational flow 700 of FIG.7 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operationsmay include an operation 1810, an operation 1820, or an operation 1822.

After a start operation, a placing operation 710, and a transferringoperation 720, the operational flow 1800 moves to a defining operation1810, where a transcutaneous path extending through the skin portion ofthe subject from the first device to the subdermal second device may bedefined. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, a transcutaneouspath 122 extending through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 fromthe first device 100 to the subdermal second device 106 may be defined.

Then, in a transferring operation 1820, the material may be transferredthrough the skin portion of the subject from the first device to thesubdermal second device generally along the transcutaneous path. Forexample, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the material 112 may betransferred through the skin portion 102 of the subject 104 generallyalong the transcutaneous path 122.

At the operation 1822, a transcutaneous path extending through the skinportion of the subject may be defined to avoid at least one of a nerve,a blood vessel, or a previous transcutaneous path. For example, as shownin FIGS. 1 through 6, the transcutaneous path 122 may be defined toavoid a blood vessel 500.

FIG. 19 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 700 of FIG. 7. FIG. 19 illustrates embodiments where thetransferring operation 720 may include at least one additionaloperation. Additional operations may include an operation 1902. At theoperation 1902, a signal from the subdermal second device which isindicative of a location on the subdermal second device may be received.For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the subdermal second device106 may transmit a signal to the first device 100 indicating a locationon the subdermal second device 106, such as the location of thereceiving port 116. The location of the receiving port 116 may betransmitted as a set of coordinates, a vector oriented from a knownposition on the subdermal second device 106, or in another format asdesired.

FIG. 20 illustrates an operational flow 2000 representing exampleoperations related to transferring material through a skin portion 102of a subject 104 to a subcutaneous/subdermal second device 106. FIG. 20illustrates an embodiment where the example operational flow 700 of FIG.7 may include at least one additional operation. Additional operationsmay include an operation 2010, or an operation 2012.

After a start operation, a placing operation 710, and a transferringoperation 720, the operational flow 2000 moves to a receiving operation2010, where a signal from the subdermal second device may be received.For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the first device 100 mayreceive a signal 126 from the subdermal second device 106.

At the operation 2012, a signal may be received regarding at least oneof a location, a desire to transfer material, a readiness to transfermaterial, a characteristic of material to be transferred, an amount ofmaterial available to be transferred, a time for transfer to commence,an amount of material to be transferred, a desire to stop transfer, oran acknowledgement that transfer is complete. For example, as shown inFIGS. 1 through 6, the first device 100 may receive a signal 126 fromthe subdermal second device 106 regarding a location for a material,such as the location of a receiving port 116. For instance, the firstdevice 100 may include a transmitter 131 for transmitting a signal tothe second device 106. Alternatively, the signal 126 may indicate adesire to transfer material (e.g., a signal indicating the subdermalsecond device 106 is in need of additional material), a readiness totransfer material (e.g., at a time when the subdermal second device 106is ready to receive material), a characteristic of material to betransferred (e.g., a desired concentration of a drug), an amount ofmaterial available to be transferred (e.g., an amount of materialpresent in the first device 100), a time for transfer to commence (e.g.,for scheduling a transfer of material), an amount of material to betransferred (e.g., a specific number of grams of a material), a desireto stop transfer (e.g., a signal indicating the subdermal second device106 is full), or an acknowledgement that transfer is complete (e.g., asignal indicating the subdermal second device 106 has as much of amaterial as it needs).

FIG. 21 illustrates alternative embodiments of the example operationalflow 700 of FIG. 7. FIG. 21 illustrates embodiments where thetransferring operation 720 may include at least one additionaloperation. Additional operations may include an operation 2110.

At the operation 2110, transfer of the material may be stopped basedupon comparing an amount of the material collected by the subdermalsecond device to an amount of the material ejected from the firstdevice. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the subdermal seconddevice 106 may signal 126 the first device 100 regarding an amount ofmaterial received. In a case where the amount of material received isdifferent from an amount of material sent/ejected from the first device100, a determination may be made regarding the efficacy of the transfer.In a case where the material transferred from the first device 100 tothe subdermal second device 106 is less than the amount of materialreceived by the subdermal second device 106, the transfer may bestopped. In this instance, the first device 100 and the subdermal seconddevice 106 may need to be realigned for a more effective transfer ofmaterial. Alternatively, a determination may be made that the materialis being diverted by an obstacle, absorbed by the subject, or the like.

Following are a series of flowcharts depicting implementations. For easeof understanding, the flowcharts are organized such that the initialflowcharts present implementations via an example implementation andthereafter the following flowcharts present alternate implementationsand/or expansions of the initial flowchart(s) as either sub-componentoperations or additional component operations building on one or moreearlier-presented flowcharts. Those having skill in the art willappreciate that the style of presentation utilized herein (e.g.,beginning with a presentation of a flowchart(s) presenting an exampleimplementation and thereafter providing additions to and/or furtherdetails in subsequent flowcharts) generally allows for a rapid and easyunderstanding of the various process implementations. In addition, thoseskilled in the art will further appreciate that the style ofpresentation used herein also lends itself well to modular and/orobject-oriented program design paradigms.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing specificexemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware, software, and/or firmware implementations of aspectsof systems; the use of hardware, software, and/or firmware is generally(but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardwareand software can become significant) a design choice representing costvs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciatethat there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/orother technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware,software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will varywith the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or othertechnologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determinesthat speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for amainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibilityis paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly softwareimplementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt forsome combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, thereare several possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devicesand/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none ofwhich is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to beutilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehiclewill be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, orpredictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilledin the art will recognize that optical aspects of implementations willtypically employ optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

In some implementations described herein, logic and similarimplementations may include software or other control structuressuitable to operation. Electronic circuitry, for example, may manifestone or more paths of electrical current constructed and arranged toimplement various logic functions as described herein. In someimplementations, one or more media are configured to bear adevice-detectable implementation if such media hold or transmit aspecial-purpose device instruction set operable to perform as describedherein. In some variants, for example, this may manifest as an update orother modification of existing software or firmware, or of gate arraysor other programmable hardware, such as by performing a reception of ora transmission of one or more instructions in relation to one or moreoperations described herein. Alternatively or additionally, in somevariants, an implementation may include special-purpose hardware,software, firmware components, and/or general-purpose componentsexecuting or otherwise invoking special-purpose components.Specifications or other implementations may be transmitted by one ormore instances of tangible transmission media as described herein,optionally by packet transmission or otherwise by passing throughdistributed media at various times.

Alternatively or additionally, implementations may include executing aspecial-purpose instruction sequence or otherwise invoking circuitry forenabling, triggering, coordinating, requesting, or otherwise causing oneor more occurrences of any functional operations described above. Insome variants, operational or other logical descriptions herein may beexpressed directly as source code and compiled or otherwise invoked asan executable instruction sequence. In some contexts, for example, C++or other code sequences can be compiled directly or otherwiseimplemented in high-level descriptor languages (e.g., alogic-synthesizable language, a hardware description language, ahardware design simulation, and/or other such similar mode(s) ofexpression). Alternatively or additionally, some or all of the logicalexpression may be manifested as a Verilog-type hardware description orother circuitry model before physical implementation in hardware,especially for basic operations or timing-critical applications. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize how to obtain, configure, and optimizesuitable transmission or computational elements, material supplies,actuators, or other common structures in light of these teachings.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium usedto actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearingmedium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable typemedium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), aDigital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter,receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.).

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious embodiments described herein can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by various types of electromechanical systemshaving a wide range of electrical components such as hardware, software,firmware, and/or virtually any combination thereof; and a wide range ofcomponents that may impart mechanical force or motion such as rigidbodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, electro-magneticallyactuated devices, and/or virtually any combination thereof.Consequently, as used herein “electromechanical system” includes, but isnot limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupled with a transducer(e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, a Micro ElectroMechanical System (MEMS), etc.), electrical circuitry having at leastone discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at leastone integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which atleast partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein,or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory(e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), electrical circuitryforming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch,optical-electrical equipment, etc.), and/or any non-electrical analogthereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art willalso appreciate that examples of electromechanical systems include butare not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, medicaldevices, as well as other systems such as motorized transport systems,factory automation systems, security systems, and/orcommunication/computing systems. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat electromechanical as used herein is not necessarily limited to asystem that has both electrical and mechanical actuation except ascontext may dictate otherwise.

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious aspects described herein which can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware,and/or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed ofvarious types of “electrical circuitry.”Consequently, as used herein“electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electricalcircuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitryhaving at least one application specific integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by acomputer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by acomputer program which at least partially carries out processes and/ordevices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computerprogram which at least partially carries out processes and/or devicesdescribed herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g.,forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), and/orelectrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem,communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.). Those havingskill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described hereinmay be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combinationthereof.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least a portion of thedevices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a dataprocessing system. Those having skill in the art will recognize that adata processing system generally includes one or more of a system unithousing, a video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatilememory, processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors,computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphicaluser interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interactiondevices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), and/orcontrol systems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g.,feedback for sensing position and/or velocity; control motors for movingand/or adjusting components and/or quantities). A data processing systemmay be implemented utilizing suitable commercially available components,such as those typically found in data computing/communication and/ornetwork computing/communication systems.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein describedcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussionaccompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptualclarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated.Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and theaccompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their moregeneral classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended tobe representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specificcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be takenlimiting.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewedas being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents, and/or wirelessly interactable, and/or wirelesslyinteracting components, and/or logically interacting, and/or logicallyinteractable components.

In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to,” “configurable to,” “operable/operative to,”“adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that “configured to” can generallyencompass active-state components and/or inactive-state componentsand/or standby-state components, unless context requires otherwise.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to claims containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “Aor B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B.”

With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art willappreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed inany order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in asequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may beperformed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may beperformed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may includeoverlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental,preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variantorderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like“responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives aregenerally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictatesotherwise.

1. A device, comprising: a reservoir configured for placement externallyto a skin portion of a subject; an output port operably connected to thereservoir and configured for transferring a liquid materialtherethrough, the liquid material in direct contact with the skinportion of the subject under force, utilizing at least one of anelectric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, to an input port ofa second device placed on a second side of the skin portion of thesubject; and a receiver configured for receiving a signal from thesecond device.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a secondport configured for transferring a second liquid material therethrough,the second liquid material in direct contact with the skin portion ofthe subject to the second device.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein thesecond port is operably connected to the reservoir and configured fortransferring the liquid material therethough, the liquid material indirect contact with the skin portion of the subject to the input port ofthe second device.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the second port isoperably connected to a second reservoir and configured for transferringthe second liquid material therethrough, the second liquid material indirect contact with the skin portion of the subject.
 5. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the signal comprises: at least one of an electricalcurrent, an electrical field, a magnetic flux, an optical signal, aradio frequency identification, or an ultrasonic signal.
 6. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the signal comprises: a signal regarding at leastone of a need for the liquid material, a need for a quantity of theliquid material, a need for a type of the liquid material, a location,cessation of a need for the liquid material, a quantity of the liquidmaterial collected, or a ready condition for receiving the liquidmaterial.
 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a transmitterconfigured for transmitting a signal to the second device.
 8. The deviceof claim 7, wherein the signal comprises: a signal regarding at leastone of a location, a desire to transfer material, a readiness totransfer material, a characteristic of the material to be transferred,an amount of material available to be transferred, a time for transferto commence, an amount of material to be transferred, a desire to stoptransfer, or an acknowledgement that transfer is complete.
 9. The deviceof claim 1, further comprising: a sensor configured for detecting anindicator of the location of the second device.
 10. The device of claim9, wherein the indicator of the location of the second device comprises:a fiducial on the subject.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein theindicator of the location of the second device comprises: a fiducial onthe second device.
 12. A device, comprising: a reservoir configured forplacement externally to a skin portion of a subject; an output portoperably connected to the reservoir and configured for transferring aliquid material therethrough, the liquid material in direct contact withthe skin portion of the subject under force, utilizing at least one ofan electric field, a microjet, or an ultra fine stream, to an input portof a second device placed on a second side of the skin portion of thesubject; and a sensor configured for detecting an indicator of thelocation of the second device.